Poinsettia plant named ‘Rineab’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Rineab’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely and upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit with thick and sturdy lateral branches; dark green-colored leaves that are oak leaf-shaped; early flowering habit; inflorescences with vivid red-colored flower bracts that are oak leaf-shaped; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RINEAB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Rineab’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new strong, upright and early-floweringPoinsettia plants having upright flower bracts, good cyathiadevelopment, high temperature tolerance and excellent post-productionlongevity.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in the autumn of 2013 of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.‘Dueavared’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,627, as the female, orseed, parent, with Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘PER1360’, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,222, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newPoinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. in November,2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sincethe spring of 2015 has shown that the unique features of this newPoinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Rineab’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Rineab’ as a new and distinct Poinsettia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely and upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit with        thick and sturdy lateral branches.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves that are oak leaf-shaped.    -   5. Early flowering habit; when grown under natural flowering        season conditions plants flower on or about November 28 in        Southern California.    -   6. Inflorescences with vivid red-colored flower bracts that are        oak leaf-shaped.    -   7. Good post-production longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of thenew Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the female parent,‘Dueavared’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Branch angle of plants of the new Poinsettia is more upright        than and not as wide as branch angle of plants of ‘Dueavared’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia have thicker stems than plants        of ‘Dueavared’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are broader than        leaves of plants of ‘Dueavared’.    -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak leaf-shaped        whereas leaves of plants of ‘Dueavared’ are ovate in shape.    -   5. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are broader        than flower bracts of plants of ‘Dueavared’.    -   6. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak        leaf-shaped whereas flower bracts of plants of ‘Dueavared’ are        ovate in shape.    -   7. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are lighter red        in color than flower bracts of plants of ‘Dueavared’.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of thenew Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the male parent,‘PER1360’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are taller than plants of        ‘PER1360’.    -   2. Branch angle of plants of the new Poinsettia is more upright        than and not as wide as branch angle of plants of ‘PER1360’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak leaf-shaped        whereas leaves of plants of ‘PER1360’ are ovate in shape        occasionally with broad lobes.    -   4. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak        leaf-shaped whereas flower bracts of plants of ‘PER1360’ are        ovate in shape occasionally with broad lobes.    -   5. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are more        upright than flower bracts of plants of ‘PER1360’.    -   6. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are lighter red        in color than flower bracts of plants of ‘PER1360’.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ‘Eckanezka’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,192.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differprimarily from plants of ‘Eckanezka’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more upright and taller than        plants of ‘Eckanezka’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are broader than        leaves of plants of ‘Eckanezka’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak leaf-shaped        whereas leaves of plants of ‘Eckanezka’ are ovate to elliptical        in shape.    -   4. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak        leaf-shaped whereas flower bracts of plants of ‘Eckanezka’ are        ovate to elliptical in shape.    -   5. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are lighter red        in color than flower bracts of plants of ‘Eckanezka’.    -   6. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more high temperature        tolerant than plants of ‘Eckanezka’.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can also be compared to plants of theEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘PER1055’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,882. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differprimarily from plants of ‘PER1055’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak leaf-shaped        whereas leaves of plants of ‘PER1055’ are elliptical in shape.    -   2. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are oak        leaf-shaped whereas flower bracts of plants of ‘PER1055’ are        elliptical in shape.    -   3. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are flatter        than and not as undulate as flower bracts of plants of        ‘PER1055’.    -   4. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are lighter red        in color than flower bracts of plants of ‘PER1055’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Poinsettia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Rineab’ grown in a 15.25-cmcontainer.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Rineab’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdetailed description were grown during the spring and summer in 15.25-cmin a polyethylene-covered greenhouses in Bonsall and Encinitas, Calif.under artificial long nyctoperiod conditions and cultural practicestypical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperaturesaveraged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 foot-candles.Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. Plants were pinched one time two weeks after plantingand were 18 weeks from unrooted cuttings when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Rineab’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.            ‘Dueavared’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,627.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.            ‘PER1360’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,222.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days to develop            root callus and about 15 days for root initiation at night            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at night temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded plant            habit; inverted triangle; medium-sized inflorescences with            numerous flower bracts positioned above the foliar plane;            moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 32 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 42 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit, about nine lateral branches develop after            pinching; upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit.            Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internode length:            About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° to 45°            from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Close to 146B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 10 cm. Width: About 9.1 cm. Shape: Oak leaf-shaped,            three to five-lobed. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Relatively deeply lobed. Aspect: Slightly upright to            outwardly; flat. Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparse            pubescence along venation; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Sparsely pubescent; prominent venation; matte.            Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing            leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Darker than 147A; venation, close to 146A. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N137B; venation,            close to 147C. Leaf petioles: Length: About 5.8 cm.            Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper            surface: Close to 185A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Terminal inflorescences are            compound corymbs of cyathia with numerous colored flower            bracts subtending the cyathia; inflorescences uniformly            positioned above the foliar plane.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants            typically flower on or about November 28 in Southern            California; under artificial long nyctoperiod/short            photoperiod conditions, plants flower about 8.5 weeks later.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;            plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and            flower bract color for about two months under interior            conditions; flower bracts persistent and cyathia not            persistent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 28 cm.        -   Inflorescence height (depth).—About 9.5 cm to 10 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: Numerous,            about 28. Length, largest bracts: About 11.5 cm. Width,            largest bracts: About 8 cm. Shape: Oak leaf-shaped, three to            five-lobed. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Relatively deeply lobed. Aspect: Somewhat upright to            becoming mostly horizontal to slightly drooping with            development. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Glabrous            with prominent venation; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate,            arcuate. Color: Transitional bracts, upper surface: Close to            183A to 183B, 53A and 53B. Transitional bracts, lower            surface: Close to 146B overlain with close to 183C.            Developing bracts, upper surface: Close to 45A. Developing            bracts, lower surface: Close to 45C. Fully expanded bracts,            upper surface: Close to 45A; color becoming closer to 47A            with development. Fully expanded bracts, lower surface:            Close to 45C; color becoming closer to 47A with development.            Bract petioles: Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 46A. Color,            lower surface: Close to 46B overlain with close to 53B.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 15. Length: About            1.6 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, inner surface: Close to            145A. Color, outer surface: Close to 146B to 146C.        -   Nectaries.—Quantity per cyathium: One. Length: About 4 mm.            Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Roughly elliptical. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, developing, inner            and outer surfaces: Close to 3B. Color, fully developed,            inner and outer surfaces: Close to 21A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to outwardly.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to            145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium: About            five to ten. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color:            Close to 187B. Anther shape: Round to oval; bi-lobed. Anther            length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 187B. Amount of            pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 9B. Pistils: Quantity            per cyathium: One; tri-parted. Pistil length: About 9 mm.            Stigma shape: Lanceolate, six-parted, recurved. Stigma            color: Close to 187B. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color:            Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 144B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia    have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Poinsettia plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to about    32° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Rineab’ asillustrated and described.